Business

The ability to write an effective e-mail is not one of art, it is one of science. I’ll do my best to break it down in this write-up.Time is the most valuable commodity we all have in this world, let’s not waste it. Hopefully this will help. The first concept to understand is: “Your e-mail or any communication is attempting to generate a desired action.”Keep this top of mind as we go through how I usually structure my e-mails to quickly and effectively generate desired outcomes.

My E-mail Structure

Subject = Action and Suspense

It’s really just a matter of ensuring they see that there is an approval request with a tight deadine associated. If you are like me, e-mail is buried quickly and these are helpful to highlight a quick action that I can make. If I can’t make a quick action, then it’s not ready for me in any case.

i.e. [Please Approve by 10/10/22] 10 New Servers for Project X

Desired Outcome At Top!!

This often gets drowned out by all of the supporting information that is needed to make an informed decision. Remember that you need to ask at the outset for what you want. This will frame the information review in the ask so that the person can make a quick decision or ask relevant additional questions.

i.e. Hi <Person>, I’m <Name> and looking to get approval from you for the following items, please respond with your approval after you review. Thank you.

In Summary

Example

Issues: It takes us 4 hours to map customer information to data collections.

Discussion: We investigated three different systems that might be able to assist with this issue. 1) Include a tracking label 2) and buy a system that maps to the data OR 1) Include a tracking label 2) and build a system that maps to the data

Buying is cheaper than building in the long run. The system should scale for our needs over the next 10 years. During that 10 year period we can continue to improve and modify the system for future scaling.

Recommendation: Add tracking label to data and buy XYZ system to map the data.

What do I do when I setup a server for the first time?

This is updated for my Ubuntu 16.04 installs. There are some pieces of software that I won’t include because it is very specific to my setup, but I will include them in future posts.

Configure New Users and SSH

Create my new non-standard user account that I’ll use going forward.

useradd <username>

Add my authorized_keys file so that I can login via SSH using my standard set of keys. Some people want a new key per server, but I find it easier to use the same key and rotate them every so often. Eh, what the hell…

This is painfully comical. There is no way in hell that this is legitimate. Well, I guess Apple will just need to pull all of their manufacturing out of China and move it to South America. I’m actually pretty curious why more of our manufacturing isn’t in South America.

This is such a ridiculous read.

Apple Inc. violated the design patents of a Chinese device maker and may have to halt sales of its latest iPhones in Beijing, the city’s intellectual property authority ruled, handing the U.S. company its latest setback in a pivotal market.

To help people achieve their career goals, or at least understand their career goals, and this is the resulting list.
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[su_spoiler title=”HONESTY & INTEGRITY” style=”fancy”]
This should not need elaboration.
In all of your dealings, your honesty and integrity should NEVER compromised.
Those are things you will NEVER be able to get back.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION SKILLS” style=”fancy”]

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[su_spoiler title=”ABILITY TO RESOLVE CONFLICT” style=”fancy”]
You are always going to run into situations where you disagree with others about the direction of projects, work, politics, etc.

You need to be able to resolve those conflicts quickly to a mutually beneficial result. It can be difficult, but it’s an essential skill to have in almost all situations.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”WORK EFFICIENTLY & EFFECTIVELY” style=”fancy”]

Work Quickly & Accurately

Find Efficiency Improvements and Implement them!

[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”ASK FOR HELP” style=”fancy”]
Ask for help when you need it, don’t wait.

I generally say, if I’m not making progress in about an hour on something I need help. That doesn’t mean that I have it solved, but it means that I’m working toward a solution and I know how to get there.
[/su_spoiler]
[su_spoiler title=”UNDERSTAND YOUR CAREER GOALS” style=”fancy”]

Have a list of goals.

Your goal might be to stay in your role, but to be the best in that role.

You might have a desire to move towards a new role.

You might want to make transitions into other roles.

You should be able to communicate all of these things.

Tell people what you want and ask them how they can help you make those desires happen.

[/su_spoiler]
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I always get people asking what it takes to get to the next level.

The above traits are just some of the tools that you will want to have under your belt. If you are always stretching yourself, learning more, and understand those new knowledge, skills, and abilities that are required or desired for your dream job.

“How do I know what knowledge, skills, and abilities are required for my dream job?”

Answer: Well, the best way I’ve found is to go look at online job board postings at 1) the job descriptions for the jobs you think you want, and 2) the required skills list for those jobs. This will give you goals and direction on which KSA’s to attain.